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Patented July 14, 1891.

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' S. P. WILCO'X 8v J. D. PARTE'LLO.'

ELEGTEIG RAILWAY SYSTEM No. 455,956. Patented July 14, 1891.

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ELECTRIC RAILWAY SYSTEM. No. 455,956.

vPatented July `14, 1 891.

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' WITWESSES fue mams venas ou., Fumo-mum, msmumau, n. c.

UNITED y STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL P. TILCOX, OF ELKI-IART, INDIANA, AND JOSEPH D. PARTELLO,4

AOF ROCHESTER, MICHIGAN.

t-:LEC'HRIC-RA!I ,WAY` SYSTEM.

SPECIFIQATION' forming pm. of Lettels Patent No. 455,956, dated July14,1891.

Application mea June 16,1890. serian... 355,545. momma i To 1,55 whom t71mg/ concern:

Be it known that we, SAMUEL P. IVILCOX,

residing at Elkhart, in the countyof Elkhart and State of Indiana, andJOSEPHD. PAR, TELLO, residing at Rochester, in the county of Oakland andState of Michigan, both citizens of the United States, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Electrical- Railway Systems; andwe do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descrip-Ation of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art towhich it appertains tof make and use the same, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, and to the let-'Z' ters of reference markedthereon, which form' a part of this specification. y

This invention relates to electric railways in J which the conduit and.electric cables are located under the ground, the electric force beingconveyed to the motor on the car through a contact-trolley ortrolley-plow trave/ling on a sectional track suspended within the con-yduit, the trolley-plow being secured to an arm depending from the carand projecting into the conduit through a slit in the coveringplate ortop thereof. In conduits of this class it has beenv found difficult toprevent great loss of electric force through induction or grounding ofthe current and by the conduit becoming choked and flooded duringa heavyrain or a Wet season. To overcome these dif-V ficulties is the object ofthis invention, which we accomplish in a simple and effective manner bya perfectly-insulated system and by cutting out or renderinginactive theentire length of the sectional conducting rail or track within theconduit, except that section of said track immediately belowthetraveling car and through which it receives its propulsive force,each succeeding section of the conducting-rail being alternatelyenergized and cut out bythe trolley-plow or current collector, whichoperates the contact mechanism to that effect as the ear is travelingalong the track, all of which will be hereinafter' more fully set forth,and the essential features pointed out particularly in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification,Figure l is a plan view of a sect-ion of track equipped with ourimproved system, the upper portion of the 'whereby the car is conduitbeing broken away, showing the main or feed cable passing therethroughand the series of contact-cylinders suspended'therein, also thesectional conducting-rail and the series of swinging bails by meansofwhich the contactfeylindersare rotated. Fig. 2 is a verticallongitudinal section through the contactcylinder, themechanism thereinbeing in elevation. Fig. 3 is a perspective viewof a section of track orroadway, the side ofthe conduit and that of the contact-cylinder locatedtherein being broken away, showing the arrangement of parts. Fig. iis anenlarged view, partly in section, of the hangers that support themechanism within the conduit. Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-section throughacar and the track and conduit and showing the trolley-plow orcurrent-collector in position, as wh en actuating the mechanism withinthe conduit to make the contact that diverts the electric currentthrough the motor on the car, propelled. Fig. 6 is a side elevation ofthe trolley-plow and a portionot' the sectional rail or track on whichit travels within the conduit. Fig. 7 is an end view of' the trolley andcontact-cylinder, showing the fender of the trolley as-actuating theswinging bail to rotate the cylinder in making the contact. Fig. 8 is avertical longitudinal section,

through the rotating contact-cylinderand its interior mechanism, takenon dotted line 3 3 of Fig. 10. Fig. 9'is a vertical cross-section`through the cylinder, taken on* dqtted 11h61 l of Fig. 8. Fig. lO is alike sectionon' "dotn ted line 2 2 of Fig. 8, lookingv toward terior ofthe cylinder. Fig. 11- is a side elevation of the trolley, looking atthe reverse side of 6. Fig. l2 is a detail section through one of thetrolley-wheels and the beam in which its journal is supported.

Referring to the letters of reference, A indicates the conduit, which islocated at one side of the center of the track, between the rails J Jthereof, one side of the conduit being parallel with a vertical linethrough the center of the track, the other side being arcshaped andsupported by the braces A, (shown in Figs. 3 and 5,) its upper surfacehaving the covering-plates B and the slotopening T therethrough.

B indicates a series of hangers depending IOO ' within the cylinder.

from the upper wall of the conduit. One end of the rod D is secured inthe body C of the hangers, the other end of said rod supporting thesectional conducting rail E. (Clearly shown in Fig. 3.)

F indicates la crank-shaft, the ends of which are journaled in thesupporting-rods D. Mounted on said shaft F is a hollow cylinder G, saidshaft passing through the ends of said cylinder and being firmly securedthereto, the crank portion of the shaft lying From the horizontalAportion F of the shaft within the cylinderG is suspended a heavy metalcontact-plate K by passing said portion of the shaft loosely throughvthe heads a a of said plate, which permits the plate K to swing freelythereon. Secured to each of the right-angle portions4 of the shaft Fwithin the cylinder G isa stopplate u, against which the ends of theplate K strike as said cylinder is rotated to bring the plate K intocontact therewith, the face of said stop-plates being beveled tocorrespond with the beveled ends of the plate K, so as to afford agreater contact -surface The stop-plates u u are secured to the shaft Fby forming an eye cin said plates and passing said shaft therethrough,in which it is secured by means of the set-screw c', as shown in Fig. 8.This form of attachment permits of the proper adjustment of said plates.

The swinging bail is formed of the horizontal rod H and the transverserods I, that'connect the rcd H with the shaft F. By raising said bailthe shaft F is turned, thereby rotating the cylinder G, mountedthereon,for purposes hereinafter explained.

' A indicates the ordinary dynamo. Leading from and returning to saiddynamo are the line-cables Z Z of the system'. The feedcable Z, which isperfectly insulated, passes through and is supported in the conduit, asshown in Figs. l, 3, and 5. The return-cable Z is located beneath therail J and connected thereto by conducting-strips J. (Shown in Fig. 5.)

From the main cable Z are a series of branches Z", that pass through theends of each of the cylinders G, and are attached to oneof the heads aof the plate K, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 8. To provide against thecurrent passing into the shaft F from the heads a., we insulate saidheads from said shaft by means of a glass sleeve c, (shown in Fig. 8,)which is placed in said heads around the shaft F', thus thoroughlyinsulating the plate K from said shaft.

It Will now be apparent that when the plate K is free from contact withthe stop-plates u fuJ the electric current from the branch cable Z willbe confined to the plate K within the cylinder G; but when the bail H israised, so

"as to rotate the cylinder G sufficiently to cause the plate K to swingagainst the stopplates u u,

plates, causing thecurrent to pass out of the a contact is made betweensaid' cylinder through the shaft F and cross-Wire Q to a section of theconducting-rail E, from which it is collected by the trolley travelingon said rail and conveyed to the motor on the car, and when the bail isdropped back the cylinder will rotate to its normal position, causingthe plate K to swing away from the ing the contact and cutting out thecurrent from that section of the rail E.

To prevent a waste of electric forcethrough the hangers B, thesupporting-rods D D are insulatedfrom the body C of the hangers by aglass sleeve h, (shown in Fig. 4,) which is placed around the rod DWithin the body of the hanger and is secured in place by the nuts h',screwed onto the rod D at each end of the sleeve h, thus perfectlyinsulating said supporting-rod from the body of the hanger.

It will be seen on looking at Figs. l and 3 that each section of theconducting-rail E is independently supported from the hangersB B andprovided with the contact-cylinder G and actuating-bail. The length ofsaid sections is'somewhat greater than that of the car, or abouttwenty-five feet in length, and being disconnected the electric currentcannot pass from one to the other directly, but enters each sectionthrough its contact-cylinder only, which is actuated by the plow orcollecting-trolley as the car is traveling along the track and whichautomatically cuts out its section after the car has passed that point.

The plow or collecting-trolley is composed of the horizontal beam L, inwhich is secured the journals n, that carry the grooved wheels h. (Shownin Figs. 6, 11, and l2.) Mounted on the trolley over the wheels h, andsecured to the beam L by means of the brace-arms cl d', is a curvedfender M, the ends f of which dip nearly to the rail E, on which thewheels h of the trolley travel. Bolted to the nonconducting beam L ofthe trolley are two uprights P, that are adapted to pass through theslot T in the conduit and enter between the guide-blocks s s, secured tothe adjacent faces of the depending braces O O, attached to the frame ofthe car, as shown in Fig. 5, and .between which said uprights areadapted to slide vertically. By this arrangement the springing motion ofthe car is not imparted to the trolley within the conduit.

m indicates a tube secured to the beam L of the trolley, into which thecables t t lead from the journals of the wheels hf, as shown in Fig. 1l.Said cables unite Within said tube and pass therethrough to the motor lVon the car, as shown in Fig. 5.

N indicates a guard or shield through which the uprights P and the tubem pass, and which is secured thereto. Said shield prevents dirt or anysubstance from falling through the slot in the conduit onto the wheelsof the trolley, said shield being shown in Figs. 5, 6, and ll.

'It will be apparent that as the carv moves ystop-plates u u, (shownin-Fig. 3,) thus break- IOC IIC

along the track with the trolley coupled thereto and traveling on theconducting-rail E within the conduit the curved end f of the fender M ofthe trolley will engage under the upwardly-bent end f of the bail Handraise said bail, whereby the cylinder G is rotated, soas to cause thecontact-plate K therein to swing against the stop-plates u u, thereby,-

making a contact that forms a circuit through, the cylinder G, thecurrent.` passing` out of saidvcylinder through the shaft F, thence intothe section of the conducting-rail E on which the trolley is travelingand from which it is collected by the trolley-wheels 7L, and, passingthrough the journals n of said wheels to the cable t, connected thereto,as shownin Fig; 12, is conveyed through said cable to the motor W on thecar, (shown in Fig. 5,) by means of which the car is propelled. From themotor the current is conveyed through the cable t to the journal of -thecar-wheel, (shown at t,) thence through said wheel to the track-1 railJ', and through the conductingstrips J to the line-cable Z, throughwhich it is returned to the dynamo. When the fender M of the trolley haspassed the bail H, said bail, by force of gravitation,will fall toitsnormal position, as shown in Fig. 3, rotating the cylinder back andcausing the plate K to swing away from the plates u u, breaking thecontact and cutting out the section of the rail E over which thetrolley-,plow has just passed. Before, however, the fender M of thetrolley has released the bail H of one section it has raised the bail Hand actuated the contact mechanism of the succeeding section, so thatthecurrent is simply shiftedfrom one section of the rail E to another asthe car moves along the track through the medium of the actuating-hailsand contact-cylinders G, and by this meansa circuit is always maintainedbetween the main cable Z and the motor on the car while the trolley ison the track E. The bails H are provided with the upwardlybent ends f ateach end thereof, so that the fender of the trolley will raise saidbails to actnate the shaft and the contact-cylinder with the car movingin` either direction.

It will be seen on looking at Fig. 7 that the maximum height to whichthe bail H is raised by the fender M of the trolley is suflicient toeffect a one-quarter rotation of the cylinder G. On looking at Fig. l0it will be seen that a one-eighth .rotation of said cylinder issufficient to swing the plate K into contact with the stop-plates u u.The further rotation of the cylinder after such contact, and which isshown by the two dotted positions of Fig. 9, is to prevent the plate Kbeing swung away from the plates it u by any jarring or vibration of theparts, thus makinga sure and perfect contact.

In Figs. 2 and S the crank portion F of the shaft F is shown as separatefrom said shaft, and connected thereto by the T-joints b and set-screwse. By this arrangement the contact-plates may be readily located on theshaft withinthe cylinder, which would be difficult to accomplish if saidshaft'were formed of a continuous piece. It will also be seen that bysuspending .the contact mechanism within the conduit from the hangers Bthe bottom of the conduit is free from all obstructions, affording aperfect drainage therefor and permitting of theattachment of a brush tothe plow or trolley to travel l upon the bottom of the conduit, by-meansof which it may be cleaned.

The cylinders G form a housing which eX- cludes dirt and dampness fromthe operating parts within them, which, taken in conneci connectedconductor, each cylinder having electrical connection with one of thedisconnected electrical conductors and one of the main electricalconductors, each cylinder being journaled in suitable supports andhaving electrical conductors within, said electrical conductors withinthe cylinder adapted to be brought together and separated by therotation of the cylinder, and means for rotatin g the cylinder,substantially as specified.

2. In an electric-railway system, the combination of the main electricconductors along said system, a third conductor composed of a series ofdisconnected sections, a cylinder for each disconnected section, a shaftsupporting each cylinder, electric conductors within the cylinder, saidelectric conductors adapted to be broughttogether and separated by therotation of the cylinder, the electric conductors within the cylindervbeing in an electric circuit between one of the mainelectric conductorsand one of the disconnected sections, a bail connected with the shaft ofeach cylinder, and a trolley-plow traveling on the disconnected sectionsactuating the cylinders, substantially as and for the purposesspecified.

3. In an electric-railway system, the combination of the main electricconductors along said system, a third conductor comprising a series ofdisconnected sections placed end to end, a shaft for each section, eachshaft carrying two conducting stop-plates and an interposedconducting-plate, the lat-ter plate having a pivotal connection to saidshaft and being insulated therefrom, means for electrically connectingsaid shaft with the conductor-section and a main conductor of thesystem, a swinging bail made fast to said shaft,

IOO

IIO

and a trolley-plow traveling on the disconnected sections' to actuatesaid. bail, said trolley-plow having an electrical connection with thecar and motor of an electric-railway system, substantially as specified.

4. In combination with the rails, car, and conduit of anelectric-railway system, an electric motor on saidv car, a pair ofcontinuous as said bail is actuated, substantially as speci- 5. In anelectric-railway system, the cornbination of the rails, a slottedconduit along said system, a pair of main-electric conductors, a thirdelectric conductor comprising a series of disconnected sections arrangedend to end and within the conduit and being insulated therefrom, a shaftfor each conductor-section, each shaft journaled in suitable supportsand carryingv electric conducting-plates, said conducting-plates adaptedto be brought together and separated by the rotation ot' the shaft, eachshaft having an electrical connection with one of the main electricconductors and one of the said electric conductor-sections, an armmounted on each shaftto actuate the saine, and a currentcollectortraveling on the series of disconnected conductors, saidcurrent-collector act-uating the arm of each shaft as it advances, saidcurrent-collector adapted to be connected with the motor on the car,substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof we afxoursignatures in presence of two witnesses.SAMUEL P. VILCOX.

JOSEPH D. PARTELLO. Witnesses:

E. S. WHEELER, B. S. WHEELER.

